THE CURLEW. 



NUMENIUS ARQUATA. 



ABOUT the end of July, or beginning of August, 

 great numbers of shore birds come into our har- 

 bours, and find their way from the mouths of the 

 rivers to a considerable distance inland. Gray 

 Plovers, Godwits, Knots, Whimbrel, Greenshanks, 

 Redshanks, Dunlin, and many other " waders," 

 continue to arrive until the end of August, and the 

 shores and mud-flats which were so deserted during 

 the summer while the birds were away nesting, now 

 present a most animated appearance. Flocks of 

 various species, and of various sizes and colours, 

 from the tiny brown Stint (Tringa minutd) to the 

 great gray Heron, are scattered over the ground in 

 all directions ; now feeding busily as they follow the 

 receding tide, now flying with noisy call to some 

 more attractive spot. As we look down upon them 



